Device for displaying flowers



Aug. 14, 1928. 1,681,040

E. A. KEMP DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING FLOWERS Filed May 14, 1924 Z8 40 as 50 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 14,1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

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Application filed Kay 14, 1984. Serial No. 718,167.

This invention relates to devices for displa ing flowers, and aims to provide a new and attractive means for exposing flowers and foliage to view whereb a novel and pleasing effect is secured an the beauty of the flowers and foliage is displayed to better advantage than when viewed in the usual X device according to the invention comprises a container of transparent material and of rounded shape adapted to be filled with water or other suitable transparent liquid, mean for sealing the opening of the container, means for holding the flowers in display position in the li uid within the container, and means for iluminating the flowers.

While it is'well known to keep plants, and particularly water plants, for display purposes under water in transparent receptacles, such displays do not produce the results secured by my new met d.

A full understanding of the invention can best be given by a detailed description of a device embodyin the invention, and the use of the same. uch a device is shown in the accompanying drawings; in which Fig. 1 is a vertical central sectional view of the device taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a view thereof on.line 2-2 of and Fig. 4 a partial vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents a container of transparent material, preferably glass, and of spherical or other rounded.

shape having a neck 11 provided with an external thread 12 which is adapted to engage the internal thread 13 of an annular recess 14 formed in a base member 15. The base 15 is made of wood, non-rusting metal or other suitable material, and forms a liquid-tight closure for the container when screwed on to the neck 11 thereof. A gasket of rubber or other suitable material at the bottom of the recess '14 forms a seat for the edge of the neck 11 and provides a liquid-tight joint between the edge of the neck and the base 15.

The central portion of the base 15, which is formed to extend upward into the neck of the container, serves as a flower holder, being ada ted to hold the stems B of the flowers in icated at A. As shown, this central ortion is provided with a plurality of ho es 17 into which the stems of the flowers are inserted. In order to hold the flowers in lace and prevent them from floating freely in the liquid, a covering 18 of sheet rubber or other elastic sheet material is secured over the holes 17 and formed with slits 19 in alignment with holes 17 to permit the flower stems to be inserted therethrough into the holes. Thus a flower stem inserted through a slit 19 into the corresponding hole 17 will be gripped by the elastic covering 18 and firmly held in place. A stand 20 serves to receive the base 15 and iupptirt the assembled device as shown in It is desirable to provide the device with means for illuminating the flowers and the liquid in the container. For this purpose in the construction shown, the-base 15 has a central through openin or chamber to accommodate a small electric light bulb 26 mounted on and supplied with current by a battery 27. The battery 27 is most desirabl located in a recess in the bottom of the ase 15 and rests on a supporting plate 28 hinged to the underside of thebase at 29 and locked in sup orting position by means of a latch 30 pivoted to the base 31. The battery and lamp circuit is Fig 1; open between two contacts 32, 32' on the ig. 3 is a plan view of the base member;

casing of the battery. When desired, the circuit may be closed by means of a switch lever 33 made of conducting material and ivoted at 34 to the bottom of the base 15. n Fig. 2 the switch is shown in the open position, the closed position being indicated 1n dotted lines. The inner end of the central opening 25 is hermetically sealed by means of a lens 35 mounted in a suitable holder 36.

The stand 20 is of such construction as to readily permit access to the switch lever 33 so that the li ht may be turned on and off as desired. 11 the particular construction shown the stand 20 is formed as a cylindrical shell having legs 40 and open at the bottom and provided with an internal circular flange 41 adapted to support the base member 15.

In usin the device, the flowers or foliage to be displayed are arranged in the flower holder of base 15, and the globe 10 is filled with water, and the base member 15 with the flowers depending therefrom is then screwed on to the neck 11 of the globe, care being taken that as little free air as possible is trap ed in the 'lobe. A small amount of air rom the ho cs 17 of the flower holder will be trapped in the globe. During this operation the stems of the flowers cannot fall out of the holes 17 as they are tightly held by the covering 18. The device is then inverted and placed in the stand 20.

The flowers or foliage as viewed throu h the spherical or other convex wall of t e container and the water are magnified in size. Air contained within the petals of the flowers and the leaves and stems when the flowers are placed within the water-filled container moves outward to the surface of the flowers and leaves and stems and collects in small globules which adhere thereto and produce a very noticeable and pleasing effect, which is intensified by the illumination of the flowers and surrounding liquid by means of the lamp within the base 15.

A variety of color effects may be produced by employing a suitably colored liquid or colored glass for the globe 10, the lens 35, or the li ht bulb 26.

\Vhat i claim is:

1. A device for displaying flowers and the like, comprisinga liquid container having an opening and havin a transparent wall, means for sealing saitf opening, means for holding flowers in display position in liquid within the container, and a source of light adjacent said sealing means, said sealing means being formed to permit the passage of light from said source to illuminate the flowers in the container.

2. A device for displaying flowers and the like, comprisin a liquid container having an opening and havin a transparent wall, a base member formed to seal said opening and provided with means for holding flowers in display position in liquid within the container, and a source of light adjacent said base member, said base member being formed to permit the passage of light from said source to illuminate flowers in the c0ntainer.

3. A device for displa 'ingflowers and the like, comprising a 1i Hit container of transparent material having rounded walls and having an opening, a base member formed to seal said opening and provided with means for holding flowers in display position in liquid within the container and having a light-transmitting wall, and an electric light bulb mounted adjacent the light transmitting wall of the base member.

4. A device for displaying flowers and the like, comprising a spherical liquid container of transparent material having an opening, a base formed to serve as a liquid-tight closure for said opening and a flower holder,

the flower holder having holes therein to receive the stems of the flowers and having a covering of elastic material secured thereto formed with openings aligned with said holes adapted to grip the flower stems and hold them in place.

5. A device for displa ing flowers and the like, comprising a lirplid container of transparent material having rounded walls and having an opening, a base formed to serve as a liquid-tight closure for said opening and having its central portion formed to serve as a flower holder and having an opening therein provided with a light-transmittin closure at its inner end, and a source of liglit within said opening.

(5. A device for displa ing flowers and the like, comprising a liquitl container of transparent material having rounded walls and having an opening, a base formed to serve as a liquid-tight closure for said opening and having its central portion formed to serve as a flower holder and having an opening therein provided with a light-transmitting closure at its inner end, an electric li ht bulb within said opening, and a battery i'or supplying current to said light bulb mounted in a recess in the base and provided with a circuit controlling switch.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EVINA AGHA KEMP. 

